SADC on the go

Multiple Job Holders
    In economic development when you are trying to show that there is an adequate labor force in a region, you need to include “under employed” people in your statistics. Under employed people, is what is known as multiple job holders.  Multiple job holders will oftentimes go to work full time for an employer if the pay and benefits are better than what is earned working multiple jobs.  Therefore they are a hidden source of additional employees for a company looking to expand into a region.  Following are some interesting facts, taken form the December 2007 issue of the Maine Department of Labor’s “Labor Market Digest,” on multiple job holders in Maine.
    Multiple job holders include wage or salary workers who hold two or more jobs, self-employed workers who also hold a wage or salary job and unpaid family workers who also hold a wage or salary job.  Excluded are self-employed persons with multiple businesses and persons with multiple jobs as unpaid family workers.
    The Maine multiple job holding rate moved from 6.5 percent for 1994 to 8.2 percent for 2006.  The Maine rate has remained consistently above the national rate.  
    The reasons for taking an additional job are many and varied.  Some do so because they enjoy the work or want to pursue other economic activities.  Others seek a second job because they are unable to work enough hours or earn enough money in their primary jobs to support themselves and their families.
    There may be additional explanations for Maine’s multiple job holding rate.
    Studies indicate that high multiple job holding rates are tied in part to higher-than-average levels of part-time workers and a relatively high incidence of agricultural employment and the need for workers in that industry to supplement their incomes. (Although not stated in the article, one would have to think that the forestry/logging industry echoes the agricultural industry in Maine).  The percent of employment accounted for by workers whose primary job is part-time or part-year is higher in Maine than in the U.S.  The higher level of part-time workers is likely due to: (1) the high degree of seasonality of employment in Maine and (2) the growth and current employment levels of retail trade and many service industries in Maine where part-time jobs ads more prevalent.  Agricultural employment in Maine also accounted for a higher percentage of resident employment in Maine than the U.S. in 2006 (Maine, 2.7 percent; U.S., 1.6 percent).
    Another possible contributor to the high multiple job holding rate in Maine is the level of self-employment.  In Maine, 9.4 percent of the employed residents said they were self-employed compared to a national rate of 7.4% for 2006.  Many Maine residents whose primary job is self-employment likely have a wage or salary job to supplement their income.
    While there are no official statistics for the greater Houlton area, one can assume that this region is no different than the rest of Maine in regards to multiple job holder statistics. Given the increase in retail/service employment, high agricultural and forestry employment, this area could very well have a higher rate than the rest of the state. This is why the region can boast a higher potential labor force than current statistics show when working with potential companies looking to expand their operations to Aroostook.
    SADC continues to push forward with its mission to attract and guide new business to Southern Aroostook for the betterment of our area.  SADC is a private/public-funded partnership and if interested in contributing to our efforts or attending one of our board meetings as a guest please contact the office at 521-0157.